If man is an island, I want it to be Ibiza

If our parents’ memories of youth have long-playing Beatles albums as a soundtrack, my generation’s glowstick-lit flashbacks play out to the trance music of Paul Van Dyk.

For lots of people who came of age at the turn of the new millennium, Ibiza holds a mythical status. It’s the club world’s mecca, where both superstar DJs and devoted revellers must make a pilgrimage.

It’s Neverland, where the main objective isn’t to work hard but to party hardest. So I thought it fitting to mark my impending transition from youth to adulthood with one long, guiltless party in this crazy island. Here’s where my quest to cross off the first item on my list happens — #1: Dance my ass off in Ibiza.

Espuma

Nothing quite prepares one for Espuma!, the legendary foam party held twice a week at club Amnesia. The description that it’s like being in a washing machine is accurate. One is strongly advised to enter the foam knowing clothes will get completely soaked and to take valuables that will not be ruined in the process.

The warning that people have fallen off the podium because the foam obscures the edges is definitely woth noting. But no amount of anecdotes primed me for the sight of espuma cannons unleashing torrents of foam onto the dance floor, turning the gyrating bodies into clouds of bobbing foam within minutes. When we waded into the sea of bubbly bodies and found myself blinded by the espuma that rose up over my head, I found out what it’s like to feel giddy happiness and sheer panic at the same time. Espuma! is a wild, unrestrained adult wonderland that is quintessentially Ibiza and an absolute must for anyone looking for the best place to dance until the sun rises.

Memoirs of a geisha

After dancing well into the morning, the most decadent way to chill out is to charter a boat and sail around the Balearic Islands. We took the Geisha out for the day — a classic sailing yacht with dramatic black sails and teak decks. As we languidly dozed and willed the Gray Goose to evaporate from our bodies, the crew navigated the boat from the old port of Ibiza to the pristine beaches of Formentera.

First stop was the uninhabited Isla de S’Espalmador, which is separated from Formentera by a sandbar. When the tide is low, one can wade in the crystal clear waters to go between the two islands. Next, we took a small motorboat to explore a beach with fine white sand and shallow aquamarine waters, and cool off with some ice cream. On our way back to the Geisha, some friendly Spaniards on another yacht passed over a plate of the most flavorful jamón to us, freshly sliced off the leg hanging on their boat. Afterward, we sailed to a tranquil cove called Cala Saona to snorkel surrounded by striking jagged cliffs.

Then, we set out to watch the sun set over the limestone isle of Es Vedrá, which figures in myths as the island from which sirens lured sailors. It’s no wonder that such legends have remained through the centuries as these islands are nothing short of enchanting.

F*** me i’m famous!

As a fitting end to a week of intense partying, we paid a visit to Pacha, where one of the world’s hottest DJs David Guetta presents the hottest event on the island: F*** Me I’m Famous!

How to chill out Ibiza-style? Sail on a chartered yacht around the Balearic Islands.

One needn’t be an electronica fan to know his music, as he is responsible for the infectious beats of the Black Eyed Peas’ hit song I Gotta Feeling. The VIP experience at Pacha makes one feel as if though transported into Guetta’s Sexy Chick music video.

Like a celebrity fleeing the paparazzi, we were whisked through a side door to a labyrinth of kitchens and bars before emerging in the VIP area. There, we were treated to an expansive view of the packed dance floor and mysterious go-go dancers clad in Prada-esque turbans and slinky monokinis.

Getting into the thick of the crowd affords a closer look at the spectacular performances of the glamazons scantily clad in feathers and diamante perched on mini carousel ponies, and the laser light and fireworks duel between the 12-foot tall Kryoman and his robot clone.

And then there are the music meisters who spin magic. Dutch phenom Afrojack warmed up the turntables for Guetta for hours. At 4 a.m., he turned over the tables to Guetta with Louder Than Words, a fantastic collaboration between the two DJs. As Guetta played the opening riffs of his hit summer song Club Can’t Handle Me and the crowd erupted in a frenzy of dancing and singing, I mentally crossed off an item from my ”30 before 30” list.

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Amnesia is located at Carre Enmig, 4, Ibiza, Spain. Espuma! takes place on Wednesdays and Sundays from June to September.

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Pacha is located at Av del Ocho de Agosto, Ibiza, Spain. F*** Me I’m Famous! takes place on Thursdays from May to September. For more information, on chartering a boat in Ibiza, visit http://dreamboatsibiza.com.